US Air Hubs Refuse Kristi Noem Video Blaming Democratic Party for Federal Closure

A number of key international airports across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have decided to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Issues Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could violate federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from participating in partisan actions.

“Democrats in Congress decline to finance the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our activities are affected, and most of our TSA employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary said in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to airing the video in its current form, as we maintain the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this content would violate state law.

Las Vegas Position

The Harry Reid airport also refused to show the security announcement on comparable reasons, noting in a statement that “its content included political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational purpose of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that prohibits political activities by government employees to ensure that government programs remain non-partisan.

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “refused to post the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not allow the referenced video.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are reserved for directions, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the video “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader said, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to end the government shutdown” and was striving to find methods to assist government workers working without pay during the closure.